June 29, 2008
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Hell looks absolutely fantastic.Renowned playwright turned director Martin McDonagh's majestic 2008 feature-length debut In Bruges has the distinct honor of invading my list of favorite films of all time within the span of 48 short hours. Rarely have I encountered a film that deftly blends drama, comedy, thought-provoking dialogue, and intense graphic violence into one thoroughly cohesive narrative without sacrificing anything in the process. This tale of two troubled hit men and their impromptu holiday in the breathtaking town of Bruges (it's in Belgium) begins innocently enough, giving the viewer plenty of time to get to know these two oddly lovable individuals before nose-diving into more serious issues. Stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson -- the latter of whom is strangely absent from the Region 1 DVD artwork -- bring some much-needed humanity to these world-weary mercenaries, allowing you to see the person behind the proverbial smoking gun even when the atrocities they commit are beyond forgivable. Though billed as an "action comedy," the film succeeds on more levels than pure visceral glee; the humor is derived from the characters themselves, not the situations they've unexpectedly find themselves in. And while there is a fair amount of gun-related gore splashed around during a few key scenes, I wouldn't necessarily label this picture as something most popcorn munching airheads would pay ten dollars to see on the big screen. Live Free or Die Hard this isn't. One second you're laughing out loud at Farrell's child-like antics, or the father and son relationship between the two leads, and the next you're literally on the verge of tears. This is an extremely hard balance to strike, but McDonagh makes it seem effortless. In Bruges is as captivating and beautiful as modern cinema gets. Incredible.
Recipe For Success: Collin Farrell's Outstanding Performance + McDonagh's Razor-Sharp Script + Ralph Fiennes Scares Me Sometimes
Don't Call Them Midgets: And if they don't wave to you on the streets, please don't be offended.
Most of them are on horse tranquilizers.
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